MLM - Network Marketing Blog

Bo Short and Ty Tribble Merge Online Network Marketing With Face To Face Building In Max International

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — (MARKET WIRE) — 03/07/08 —   Bo Short and Ty Tribble have formed a groundbreaking partnership, uniting their collective expertise in the Network Marketing Industry, under the name MaxImpact International, LLC. They have affiliated their new organization with a cutting-edge Network Marketing company called Max International. The goal of their organization is to create a new paradigm for success for the millions of people that have faced the conventional challenges associated with building a network marketing organization.

According to Industry leader Ken Dunn, “The partnership of Bo Short and Ty Tribble will no doubt have people talking in the Network Marketing Industry. It’s almost like Google(TM) partnering with Costco(TM), you will get the best of online and offline training and mentorship.”

MaxImpact International, LLC has offices in the states of Washington and Virginia. They are currently building teams throughout the United States and Canada. In a recent Max International news release, Bo and Ty were recognized for their achievements in two separate categories. They were honored as Top Revenue Recruiters and Top Associate Recruiters.

Ty said, “Building a successful Network is a team effort. We are working with some of the greatest partners in the industry that truly care about the success of their teams and are passionate about assisting them as they build their independent businesses. We are honored to serve them.”

In addition, they were recently identified to be among “52 of the brightest minds inside and outside network marketing.” Included in that list were notables such as Robert Kiyosaki, Paul Zane Pilzer, and Dr. Denis Waitley.

According to Bo, “Our primary focus is to mentor individuals on our team to achieve success. We cultivate leaders, not followers. We are attracting individuals that want to build a long-term income, create value through association and establish a new paradigm of success in this industry.”

Mike Dillard, creator of “Magnetic Sponsoring” and “Building on a Budget,” commented, “Ty Tribble is one of the few networkers out there who’s really on top of the Internet marketing world… If you want to learn from one of the best, Ty’s your man…”

Rudy Ruettiger, author, speaker and the inspiration for the motion picture “RUDY,” said, “Bo Short develops great leaders. He has a talent for coaching people to attain significance in their personal and professional lives.”

For More Information Contact: MaxImpact International, LLC www.MaxImpactllc.info 1-801-461-5000

Welcome to the MLM Blog

My name is Ty Tribble and I would like to welcome you to the MLM Blog. I launched this site in 2003 as a journal of my thoughts and opinions on Network Marketing.

While I write about many companies, I am only active in one, if you would like more information about myself or my business, visit my personal web site at TyTribble.com

If you have story ideas, comments or questions, you can contact me at ty (at) tribble (dot) org.

Filling in for Dane

While Dane Carlson takes some time off to celebrate a new addition to his family, I am helping to fill in at his wildly popular, Business Opportunities Weblog. I am laughing while writing this because here I am (on my little blog) promoting a blog that got like 600,000 unique visitors last month. Anyways check it out and while you are at it, click some ads,  so Dane can continue to pay my enormous salary. = )

Here is a recent post:

You’ve seen the web sites and you’ve probably heard the streaming audio sales pitch…

No Selling!
Not MLM!
$3,000 a week from home!

The next time you see one of these sites, you can pretty much bank on the fact that they are MLM and the average guy makes $3 a week. We will discuss those things in another post because today I want to discuss the selling (or lack there of) aspect of MLM.

I know a bunch of Network Marketers that love to compare their business to McDonald’s. These are the “buy from yourself and teach others to do the same” team. It’s funny because McDonald’s doesn’t operate in this manner. McDonald’s doesn’t keep their doors shut to customers, encouraging the crew to eat hamburgers and teach other crew members to do the same. McDonald’s opens their doors to customers!

More.

I also have the pleasure of being the author of Dane's MLM Business Opportunities Blog (fondly called MLM BOB).

Why Quixtar IBO's leave for Univera LifeSciences

Corporate Leadership: Univera LifeSciences has a management team that has represented Fortune 500 companies and has been responsible for tens of billions of dollars in sales. Quixtar has a management team consisting of the founder's kids.

Compensation Plan: Univera LifeSciences has a hybrid compensation plan that pays 3-15% on 4 levels and an additional 5-14% down 6 generations. Quixtar has a stair-step breakaway plan that has been basically the same since 1959. As soon as someone starts producing significant volume, they are cut off from you and you are paid only 4% of 1 generation.

Business Volume: One Business Volume is Univera LifeSciences is about $1.30, meaning 100 Points cost about $130. One Business Volume in Quixtar is equal to about $2.50, meaning 100 points cost about $250.

Business Tools: CD's in Oasis cost about 75 cents each and are sold by the company. Other tools are regulated by the company. CD's in Quixtar range from $6-8/ea. (or subscribed to for $40/month) and are a profit center for the Quixtar Diamonds. Other tools are produced by the Diamond kingpins and are likely the main source of Diamond income.

More soon.

What Would You Do?

What would you do if you found out about a Biotech company that has a pipeline of products commited to run through a Network Marketing company?

Would you gather more information?

The Univera LifeSciences Corporate Leadership

Yesterday, I wrote about the transition from Passport LLC to Univera LifeSciences. In my post, I made a comment about the corporate leadership of Oasis Life Sciences:

Univera LifeSciences had the infrastructure, products and corporate leadership that Passport LLC did not have.

As I should have guessed, a critic grabbed that small portion of my post and made it sound like I was making some sort of statement against the Passport corporate leadership. Well, the critic was right. Passport does not have the corporate leadership that Univera LifeSciences has. In fact, there isn't a Network Marketing company in the world that has the corporate leadership that Oasis Life Sciences has.

While some (see Amway-Quixtar) Network Marketing companies place the livelihood of their entire distributor force in the hands of their kids, Oasis has amassed a group of executives that is unrivaled:

Stuart Ochiltree, Chairman of the Board - As the former CEO and President of the largest direct selling company in the world, Stuart intimately understands how to build a successful company. At the age of 49, Stuart retired from his position as CEO and President of 4 billion dollar giant, Avon Direct Sales.

Derek Hall, Chief Executive Officer - Derek has more than 38 years' experience in the healthcare industry including 12 years in the natural products field. His impressive past includes serving as President/CEO of Nature’s Way, Botanicals International, Enzymatic Therapy, and Senior Vice President of McKesson Drug Company.

Stephen Cherniske, M.S., President & Chief Science Officer - Stephen Cherniske is a pioneer in the field of healthy aging and the chief architect of the groundbreaking Metabolic Model of Aging. He is also a best-selling author and recognized expert in nutritional biochemistry and human performance. For more than 30 years, Stephen has studied and educated others in nutrition, anatomy and physiology.

Stan Weiss, Executive Vice President of Marketing - Stan combines classical marketing experience in several Fortune 500 companies with executive management success in network marketing. Stan spent more than 15 years of his career with some of the most powerful marketing companies in the world including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, American Express, and Novell.

Transition to Univera LifeSciences

Beginning December 1st, Passport LLC associates will start transitioning into Univera LifeSciences. Change is not always an easy thing. But change is vital in today's fast moving world of technology and innovation.

In the last 10 months since coming on board with Passport as company President, we have had a number of initiatives already in motion that would have changed the face of Passport over the next 2-3 years. These included:

• Adding unique products
• Adding additional depth and other bonuses to the compensation plan
• Adding meetings (meet-ups) that would allow associates to see each other face to face on a semi weekly basis.
• Expanding the number and type of entry levels
• Expanding into Canada and Australia shortly after

Univera LifeSciences offers Passport associates the opportunity to take advantage of these changes in 2-3 weeks instead of 2-3 years. It's really that simple. Bo Short calls this "a giant leap", and rightly so. Yet it is a giant leap in the direction Passport was already heading.

While talking about these changes, my wife asked me, "Why don't more Network Marketing companies network with each other?". That's a darn good question.

Univera LifeSciences had the infrastructure, products and corporate leadership that Passport LLC did not have. Passport LLC has people that want to build Network Marketing the right way. Univera LifeSciences will certainly benefit from the Passport people and the people within Passport will benefit from the resources Univera LifeSciences has to offer.

Goofy Titles in Network Marketing

Let's face it. The world of Network Marketing has goofy titles, mostly gems and precious metals. Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond to name a few. These titles usually represent some sort of rank or achievement within a company.

Over the years, distributors in Amway/Quixtar would take advantage of this hierarchy by making sure that those below them took everything they said as law. They formed tool system money making machines having nothing to do with the movement of products into the hands of real end users. Only the highest level gemstones participated in the profits of these systems and most others didn't even know that the profits existed.

If you know that the title of Diamond is associated with milking hundreds of people out of book, CD, voice mail and function (meetings) money without regard for their financial success, you might get a bad taste in your mouth about titles.

However, what if the title is associated with hard work and real product volume? What if the associates "under" the titled person had an average of 6 customers each?

The most important titles I hold are husband and dad and frankly, I don't care what you call me outside of that. In my opinion, a person that builds a solid business based on customers and real product volume deserves recognition.

Call them any title you want.

I'll call those folks successful.

Quixtar Diamonds Join Univera LifeSciences

It was reported that a number of Quixtar diamonds are defecting to Univera LifeSciences. I will keep you posted, but the list appears to be growing.

Why Univera LifeSciences?

As Passport's distributor force merges into Univera LifeSciences, a fair question is why Univera LifeSciences?

Part 1

1. Company Infrastructure and Resources.

ECONET Global Resources

• Unigen Pharmaceuticals - Unigen Pharmaceuticals is the research and development branch of the ECONET with a world-class team of professionals running state-of-the-art laboratories including cell culture, analytical and quality control, and high through-put screening labs with over 80,000 square feet of manufacturing facility.
• ALOECORP - In 1988, Bill Lee established AloeCorp which has grown into the world’s largest producer of aloe vera. AloeCorp aloe is used in thousands of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and functional foods products, from Gillette to Johnson and Johnson.
• Univera LifeSciences - As part of the international family of companies that comprise the ECONET, Oasis has access to more than 100,000 square feet of research facilities between South Korea and the U.S. In fact, we have more combined research space, more scientists, more studies, patents and publications than any other natural products company. Oasis celebrates its 6th anniversary in 2005. Construction is underway on a new, 40 acre campus in Lacey, Washington.

2. Unique Products

We (Univera LifeSciences) start with the highest quality raw materials from our farms and forests around the world. We then test the ingredients and formulas at the DNA level - a process called Genomics. No other natural products company uses Genomics to test its products. Finally we complete the chain of bringing those products from farm to family to your door by using state of the art manufacturing techniques and equipment.

Liquid Supplement/Energy Drink Products

• Ageless Xtra - AgelessXtra contains herbs, vitamins, and nutrients all known to play key roles in energy production, mental clarity and focus, stress management, healthy aging and joint comfort and flexibilitly.
• Ageless Essentials - (launching in less than 2 weeks) Nutrient - Dense Superfood containing, protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, calcium, essential vitamins and minerals. Scientifically formulated to address the nutrient ingredients that promote optimal cellular development.

In part 2 of "Why Univera LifeSciences?", I will talk about the compensation plan, which I believe to be the most lucrative compensation plan in Network Marketing today, based on my research of dozens of other plans.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

More on Univera LifeSciences and Passport

Passport, LLC Takes A Giant Leap Forward

Distributor Force to Merge Into Univera LifeSciences

Charlottesville, VA – November 21, 2005 – Passport, LLC, a direct sales company based in Charlottesville, Virginia, has announced it plans to merge its Independent Associates into Univera LifeSciences. Passport currently serves distributors and customers in all 50 states and U.S. territories with its nutritional, skin care and personal care product lines.

According to Passport’s CEO Bo Short, “Over the past few months Passport’s corporate leadership has been discussing, among others, ways to enhance distributor income and expand internationally. As well, we have been reviewing various cutting-edge nutritional products that could be offered to our associates and their customers. Univera LifeSciences allows us access to a company with those products, a similar, but much more lucrative compensation plan, international expansion and corporate leadership that have no equal in this industry. Being that our allegiance is to the families associated with Passport, LLC we know that this opportunity represents and enormous leap forward for each one of them and we are proud to make that leap together.”

Univera LifeSciences is the delivery vehicle for companies owned by Bill Lee. Among his holdings are Aloecorp- the world’s leader in the production of Aloe vera and Unigen Pharmaceuticals.

Univera LifeSciences Chairman was formerly the CEO and President of Avon. Through his leadership Avon grew from $400 million dollars to become the largest direct sales company in the world. In addition, their CEO was the President/CEO of Nature’s Way as well as the former Sr. V.P. of McKesson Drug Company. The Vice Chairman of their Field Leadership Council is Marshall Douglas. Working with the Passport’s executive team Mr. Douglas will oversee the integration of Passport Independent Associates under the Univera LifeSciences umbrella.

“Both Passport and Univera LifeSciences were founded on the premise that people want an honest opportunity on which they can reach their financial goals,” Marshall stated. He added, “I am honored to work alongside people that share our values and look forward to a rewarding future for each of Passport’s Independent Associates as they partner with Univera LifeSciences.”

For more information go to: www.whatsetsusapart.com

Passport and the Univera LifeSciences Team

Ironically, while Passport was getting its start, so too was a company called Univera LifeSciences. In fact, the goals of both companies are very similar.

Learn more about Passport and the Univera LifeSciences Team: www.whatsetsusapart.com

The Univera LifeSciences Chairman was formerly the CEO and President of Avon. Through his leadership Avon grew from $700 million dollars to become the largest direct sales company in the world. In addition, their CEO was the President/CEO of Nature’s Way as well as the former Sr. V.P. of McKesson Drug Company. As a point of interest Marshall Douglas, over the past 18 months, has become the 9th largest bonus check recipient in Univera LifeSciences and currently serves as Vice Chairman of their Field Leadership Council. The Passport team will be working directly with Marshall.

Univera LifeSciences was founded by Bill Lee. His holdings include AloeCorp--the world’s largest producer of raw aloe. In fact, AloeCorp aloe is used in thousands of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and functional foods products, from Gillette to Johnson and Johnson. Among his other holdings Mr. Lee owns Unigen Pharmaceuticals. His companies have more combined research space, more scientists, more published studies, patents and publications than any other natural products company in the world.

As stated in their literature, "The Univera LifeSciences is the ‘point of the spear’ - a delivery vehicle for the vast economic network of companies owned by Bill Lee who calls his companies collectively an ECONET, a global resource structure unmatched by any in the neutraceutical industry."

The Univera LifeSciences opportunity mirrors the initiatives that were currently underway in Passport LLC. For example:

• Multiple enrollment options
• Cutting-edge Scientifically developed product line
• Unilevel pay plan w/lucrative depth bonuses
• Product-driven focus
• Customer development
• Team orientation
• Canada launch in February ‘06
• Increased compensation to Associates

According to Passport CEO Bo Short:

Univera LifeSciences allows us access to a company with superior products and resources thus enabling us to take a bold step forward in our evolution as a group of people committed to building a business based on honest, ethical practices. I am proud of our executive leadership and their vision. Most importantly, I am proud of their willingness to set aside their personal interests for that of the team.

Ironically, while Passport was getting its start, so too was a company called Univera LifeSciences. In fact, the goals of both companies are very similar.

Learn more about Passport and the Univera LifeSciences Team: www.whatsetsusapart.com

The Univera LifeSciences Chairman was formerly the CEO and President of Avon. Through his leadership Avon grew from $700 million dollars to become the largest direct sales company in the world. In addition, their CEO was the President/CEO of Nature’s Way as well as the former Sr. V.P. of McKesson Drug Company. As a point of interest Marshall Douglas, over the past 18 months, has become the 9th largest bonus check recipient in Univera LifeSciences and currently serves as Vice Chairman of their Field Leadership Council. The Passport team will be working directly with Marshall.

Univera LifeSciences was founded by Bill Lee. His holdings include AloeCorp--the world’s largest producer of raw aloe. In fact, AloeCorp aloe is used in thousands of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and functional foods products, from Gillette to Johnson and Johnson. Among his other holdings Mr. Lee owns Unigen Pharmaceuticals. His companies have more combined research space, more scientists, more published studies, patents and publications than any other natural products company in the world.

As stated in their literature, "The Univera LifeSciences is the ‘point of the spear’ - a delivery vehicle for the vast economic network of companies owned by Bill Lee who calls his companies collectively an ECONET, a global resource structure unmatched by any in the neutraceutical industry."

The Univera LifeSciences opportunity mirrors the initiatives that were currently underway in Passport LLC. For example:

• Multiple enrollment options
• Cutting-edge Scientifically developed product line
• Unilevel pay plan w/lucrative depth bonuses
• Product-driven focus
• Customer development
• Team orientation
• Canada launch in February ‘06
• Increased compensation to Associates

According to Passport CEO Bo Short:

Univera LifeSciences allows us access to a company with superior products and resources thus enabling us to take a bold step forward in our evolution as a group of people committed to building a business based on honest, ethical practices. I am proud of our executive leadership and their vision. Most importantly, I am proud of their willingness to set aside their personal interests for that of the team.

Why I Quit Quixtar

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and the topic of leaving Quixtar came up. I have told several people that the reason I left Quixtar was because I ran across this web page that had a conversation with former Quixtar Diamond, Bo Short. But as I think back on that time, I now realize that is only partially true.

Yes, I did leave Quixtar after reading Bo Short's story, but the real reason I left Quixtar was because Bo Short offered something for me to leave Quixtar to. Bo Short founded a business called Passport and I found it to be practically opposite from Quixtar in most areas.

What am I trying to say?

I am trying to say that if Bo Short had simply quit Quixtar and told his story, I don't think I would have left. There is equally damning information on Amway and Quixtar at this site by a former Emerald, yet I wrote it off, thinking that guy must be a quitter.

Bo Short didn't just tell us what is wrong with Network Marketing, he founded his own company and addressed many of the issues that face the average Network Marketer today. This is not to say that Bo Short’s Passport Company is perfect or that it has solved all of the problems in Network Marketing. Most people would admit that eliminating the cost of tools & training and offering products that are competitive with the marketplace is a step in the right direction.

Agree with him or not, Bo Short offered a solution to the problems faced in Quixtar. Isn't that what a leader is supposed to do? Offer solutions to problems?

MLMBlog: Why I Quit Quixtar

Bo Short Discusses "The System" Within Quixtar

Bo Short:

There is nothing wrong with training. Having spent 14 years playing football I am a firm believer in training. In fact, in the course of writing my books I have spent countless hours with great leaders in all areas (sports, politics, business) that are as adamant about preparation and training as I. However, I believe there is something wrong with a training program that does not seem to produce results.

Remember, three questions:

1. How long have you been in?
2. How much do you spend each year learning how to do it? (books, tapes, seminars)
3. What was your last bonus check?

If you are only attracted to the social aspect of your business then the answers do not matter. However, if your rationale is business-driven then your answers mean a great deal.

I hear entirely too many people saying, "Well, we learned a lot even though we did not make any money." At what price did you learn it? How many missed birthdays, nights away from home, etc. I would remind you to revisit why you started in the first place. Are your results consistent with your initial intentions or are you finding yourself consistently spending more than you make? At what point does someone cap his or her expenditures?

Look around the room at your next convention. How many new diamonds do you see being recognized? Where are all the new diamonds? Why are the same faces on stage while the ones in the audience seem to change periodically? As an independent businessperson, do you ever think in these terms? If the system was working so well, then one would assume there should be a steady flow of diamonds convention after convention, year after year. If there is not a stream of diamonds after this many years of training then, in my opinion, the training is not only inefficient but possibly even improper.

Since leaving Quixtar, Bo Short has founded his own company based on the principles he believes most Network Marketing distributors care about most.

The combination of teamwork, your independent thinking, Passport's tremendous support, and the current market trends all add up to mutual, shared success.

Bo Short: Integrity...More Important Than Volume

Former Quixtar Diamond IBO, Bo Short:

Prior to our decision to leave (Quixtar), I tried unsuccessfully to force change in several areas. In fact, during private meetings with the corporation and its representatives it was apparent that they were very aware of the problems that were being raised. In one particular meeting a corporate representative stated, "...The Corporation had been looking for a solution to the BSM (Business Support Materials) challenge for 35 years..." What some people consider a "challenge", I view as a breach of trust. It seems to me that 35 years is an awful long time to look for a solution and not find one.

On multiple occasions I witnessed very distasteful (to say the least) confrontations between those individuals considered to be "leaders". It was my conclusion that many of them proclaimed to want things corrected but were not willing to make the changes necessary because it affected them personally. Then again, it is easy to simply say you want things to change, while doing little to change them.

When attending meetings with the "Corporation", I shared my views quite emphatically. However, their responses were less than satisfactory. I remember telling the president of Quixtar, North America, that I was tired of being "painted with the same brush" as those people whose behavior I found offensive. Having spent a decade of my life, the last 4 -5 years of which seemed full of "promises of change", and having exhausted all of my options, I resigned.

During my last conversation with a company representative I stated the following, "In my opinion, what you have demonstrated to me is that your volume is more important than who you say you are. What I am demonstrating to you is that my word, my name, and the relationships I have built are more important than your paycheck."

Bo Short: A Diamond Leaves Quixtar

Former Quixtar Diamond Bo Short:

I have received countless calls from very kind people asking me about my leaving Quixtar. They have been very sincere regarding their desire to know my rationale for resigning. People have asked why I left, did I actually resign or did I sell my business, what were the particular issues that led me to this decision, etc. I will attempt to address as many of their questions/comments as possible.

Let me first say that most of the time I spent in that business was spent around wonderful people. The overwhelming numbers of IBO's are good, hard-working people. My leaving is in no way a statement about them.

It is also important to point out that I own another company in the same industry. Out of respect to those reading this, I do not want to give its name because I do not want to use this forum for any other reason than the purpose I have stated above. I do believe however, that it is important to disclose this fact.

I am not a fan of many companies within this industry. I see too many people spend too much money only to be disappointed in their results. It is my opinion that many of the companies in the industry share the same flaws: compensation plans that reward the select few, products that are over-priced, a hierarchy of distributors, many which lack basic leadership skills and demand unearned loyalty, and a business of training that is oftentimes the prime moneymaker for the "success stories".

People need value. Not just quality, but value. The average person is looking for a real home-based business that they can build. They want to make more than they spend, move products that are fairly priced, and enjoy the experience. In a recent newspaper release I said, "...not everyone will succeed, but they should not lose either."

I understand the role that focus and passion play in building any business, especially this type. If someone had shared the following information with me during my "running" years I might have dismissed it as well. However, many of these issues were not apparent to me at the time. When I achieved the diamond level there were approximately 57 others that did so the same year. Sometimes success masks problems. It is not my desire to dash anyone's hopes. If you are uncomfortable reading my opinions, then simply do not. I respect your decision.

I have received countless calls from very kind people asking me about my leaving Quixtar. They have been very sincere regarding their desire to know my rationale for resigning. People have asked why I left, did I actually resign or did I sell my business, what were the particular issues that led me to this decision, etc. I will attempt to address as many of their questions/comments as possible.

Let me first say that most of the time I spent in that business was spent around wonderful people. The overwhelming numbers of IBO's are good, hard-working people. My leaving is in no way a statement about them.

It is also important to point out that I own another company in the same industry. Out of respect to those reading this, I do not want to give its name because I do not want to use this forum for any other reason than the purpose I have stated above. I do believe however, that it is important to disclose this fact.

I am not a fan of many companies within this industry. I see too many people spend too much money only to be disappointed in their results. It is my opinion that many of the companies in the industry share the same flaws: compensation plans that reward the select few, products that are over-priced, a hierarchy of distributors, many which lack basic leadership skills and demand unearned loyalty, and a business of training that is oftentimes the prime moneymaker for the "success stories".

People need value. Not just quality, but value. The average person is looking for a real home-based business that they can build. They want to make more than they spend, move products that are fairly priced, and enjoy the experience. In a recent newspaper release I said, "...not everyone will succeed, but they should not lose either."

I understand the role that focus and passion play in building any business, especially this type. If someone had shared the following information with me during my "running" years I might have dismissed it as well. However, many of these issues were not apparent to me at the time. When I achieved the diamond level there were approximately 57 others that did so the same year. Sometimes success masks problems. It is not my desire to dash anyone's hopes. If you are uncomfortable reading my opinions, then simply do not. I respect your decision.

Bo Short's Quixtar Experience

Bo Short's Amway/Quixtar Experience:

• Enrolled- 1991
• ruby-1992
• emerald-1993
• diamond-1995
• Numerous tapes used within various training systems
• Bo was the first IBO to place an order via Quixtar.com

"On behalf of the Quixtar development team, I would like to congratulate you on being the very First Independent Business Owners to place a live order via Quixtar.com! The opening of the Quixtar beta test today is truly an historic occasion, and you are now a part of history as the IBOs who placed the first live order via the Quixtar Web site. Thank you for participating in our early testing, and congratulations on being a part of Quixtar history! Sincerely, Randy Bancino, Senior Manager, Internet Business Group, Quixtar."

Fax received August 6, 1999 1:43pm:

• His brother authored the Wall Street Journal Best-seller The Quixtar Revolution
• Bo was invited by the "corporation" to sit on the BSM (Business Support Materials) Task Force. It is interesting to point out that he was subsequently told the task force was being dissolved after participating in only one of their conference calls.

Read more about Bo Short.

Bo Short's Amway/Quixtar Experience:

• Enrolled- 1991
• ruby-1992
• emerald-1993
• diamond-1995
• Numerous tapes used within various training systems
• Bo was the first IBO to place an order via Quixtar.com

Updated Quixtar Price Comparison

VITAMINS

Daily Vitamin
Quixtar: $78.05
Passport: $19.50

Antioxodant
Quixtar: $87.90
Passport: $18.95

Bone Health
Quixtar: $54.90*
*Nutrilite Cal Mag D: $25.20, Nutrilite Bone Health: $29.70
Passport: $17.50
(Passport’s ingredients are similar to the ingredients contained in both of Quixtar’s products.)

Prostate Health
Quixtar: $56.55
Passport: $13.95

Cardiovascular (heart health)
Quixtar: $83.05*
*Nutrilite® CoEnzyme Q10 Complex: $68.00, Nutrilite® Garlic Heart Care Formula: $30.10 (2 month supply figured at 50% in price)
Passport: $19.00 (Passport’s ingredients are similar to the ingredients contained in both of Quixtar’s products)

Vitaman C
Quixtar: $54.40 (5 Month Supply - 1 Month Cost: $10.88)
Passport: $7.50 (1 Month Supply - 1 Month Cost: $7.50)

Hair Skin & Nail
Quixtar: $19.35
Passport: $9.50

Children's Vitamins
Quixtar: $28.50
Passport: $9.95

Glucosamine (joint health)
Quixtar: $39.90
Passport: $13.95

PERSONAL CARE

Shampoo 10oz
Quixtar: $8.00
Passport: $3.95

Conditioner
Quixtar 8.4 oz: $10.70
Passport: 10 oz: $3.95

2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner 10oz
Quixtar: $ 9.60
Passport: $3.95

Body Wash
Quixtar 13.5oz: $7.00
Passport 10oz: $4.45

Hand & Body Lotion
Quixtar 13.4oz: $11.65
Passport: 8oz: $3.95

Hand Soap (Liquid)
Quixtar (Anti-Bacterial): $5.75
Passport: $4.45

Non-Aerosol Hair Spray
Quixtar 6.75oz: $9.70
Passport 8oz: $4.95

SKIN CARE

Cleanser
Quixtar 4.4 oz: $18.30
Passport 4oz: $8.95

Toner
Quixtar 8.45 oz: $19.80
Passport 8oz: $8.95

Alpha Hydroxy 1 oz
Quixtar: $46.30
Passport: $14.95

Moisturizer
Quixtar 2.5 oz: $28.65
Passport 2.5 oz: $8.95

Renewing Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Quixtar 1.76 oz: $67.45
Passport: 2 oz: $19.95

Exfoliating Scrub
Quixtar 3.4oz: $25.75
Passport:4oz: $9.95

Hydrating Masque 2.5oz
Quixtar: $20.65
Passport: $8.95

Eye Gel
Quixtar: .34 oz: $41.30
Passport .5 oz: $9.95

Compare Quixtar - Challenge 1

Remember the Pepsi Challenge? Pepsi Cola would compare their product side by side with Coca Cola and if I recall, most people preferred the taste of Pepsi. The MLM Blog is going to do a similar challenge starting with Anti-Oxidant nutritional supplements from Quixtar and Passport LLC. We aren't going to compare the taste, we are going to compare ingredients and price.

Quixtar Nutrilite^® Antioxidant Complex

Retail Price: $87.90
90 Tablets
30 Day Supply

Includes: Pine bark, grape seed and grape skin blend, N-Acetyl cysteine, green tea extract, Quercetin, Alpha lipoic acid, and Rosemary extract.

Passport LLC Summit Nutritionals AntiOx Plus

Retail Price: $18.95
60 Tablets
30 Day Supply

Includes: Vitamins A, C and D, Grape Seed Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract, N-Acetyl cysteine, Lipoic acid, Silymarin (from milk thistle seed extract), Schizandra berry extract (9% schizandrins), Fo-ti root extract (10% anthraquiones), and Bioperine® standardized black pepper extract (95-97% piperine).

As you can see, Passport's product has ingredients that Quixtar's does not, and vice versa, but many of the ingredients are the same. The mg of each are not always equal, but I don't think it's a stretch to say that the products are similar.

Soooo.....

Why is Quixtar's product over 4.5 times the cost of Passport's product?

Podcasting and Network Marketing Revisited

Before I tell you why I think Podcasting is so important to Network Marketing, I wanted to direct you to the latest Network Marketing Podcast of a conference call on leadership by Passport CEO, Bo Short.

You can subscribe to the MLM Blog Network Marketing Podcast feed here.

From an earlier MLM Blog post:

It's one of those nights. Your daughter has a swimming meet at 7:00PM and your son has a soccer game at 7:15PM and then there is the Network Marketing conference call by the # 1 MLM trainer in 2004, Michael Oliver. You have looked forward to this call for months, but the call starts at 7:30, right in the middle of your kid's important events.

What do you do?

How about plugging your iPod into the USB port on your computer and having the conference call automatically feed into your MP3 player?

It's called Podcasting and according to Glenn Garnes at The Perfect Networker, "Podcasting can be used to distribute audio content to people wherever they may be, and have it be mobile so they can take it on the road with them, listen to it in the car, or anywhere else people go. You can distribute news, music, training, personal development content, or virtually anything else you can think of all on the fly.".

Podcasts can also be listened to right on your computer, but the neat thing about it is that you will be able to subscribe to the content you want, such as Passport Training or a weekly leadership radio show with Bo Short and it will automatically be delivered to you via RSS feed.

I can only think of two reasons why a company or a business building system within a company wouldn't be Podcasting their training.

Money and Money.

Money from CD sales and money from meetings.

If I had Jedi powers, I would make a soapbox rise out of the floor right now...

If you want to sell CD's and charge money for meetings, be my guest, but you should also provide the material for free to anyone that wants to learn.

Passport University - Network Marketing Training

Passport University is off to a great start. While the free training is geared towards Passport LLC Associates, the audio's are certainly applicable to other Network Marketing companies such as Quixtar, USANA, Vemma, Mona Vie, Fruta Vida, Xango, Epic Network, and the like.

Start with Bo Short's most recent Leadership call and then tackle some of the other audio's including:

Getting Started In Network Marketing with Dave Stone and Theresa McManus 

Network Marketing Success with Todd Falcone

Natural Selling with Michael Oliver

Ty's promise to you:

You will learn more about Network Marketing from these four audio's than from any weekend MLM seminar your might attend or your money back.

Passport LLC and Laundry Detergent

I am often asked if Passport is going to get into the laundry detergent market and the answer is yes...as soon as laundry detergent technology is able to produce a product that will wash a load of laundry using soap that is about the size of a vitamin capsule.

When two weeks of laundry detergent supply can be shipped in a bottle the size of Summit Nutritionals Daily Plus, Passport will be all over it. Currently, laundry detergent is simply too heavy to be competitively priced.

Until the laundry capsule is available, try Costco's Kirkland Signature.

Passport LLC - What Sets Us Apart

Want to know what really sets Passport LLC apart?

The top 10% of Passport LLC money earners derived 76% of their volume from customers.

Todd Falcone - Live

Passport LLC.'s series of guest speakers continues on Thursday, April 7th at 6:00PM Pacific, 9:00PM Eastern with Todd Falcone.

Todd brings a low key, yet serious approach to Network Marketing. Don't expect a raw-raw feel good MLM call. This is going to be serious information for those that want to grow a networking business.

To listen to the call dial: (641) 478-5008 and enter access code 491560#.

Passport LLC has plans to bring in guest speakers on investing, sales, networking, and other topics that are of value to Network Marketers.

Bo Short - It Takes Practice 2005?

A number of people have told me that Bo Short's "It Takes Practice" tape was the best contacting tape ever made for Network Marketing.  I bounced the idea of remaking this tape off of Bo the other day and he seemed open to it.

Would you like to see Bo Short make "It Takes Practice - 2005"?

New Passport LLC Web Sites

Passport LLC., VP, Dave Stone has put up a new batch of web sites to help brand the Passport product line. I think they are pretty cool. Passport Independent Associates can print out pages, email links, and send potential customers and business partners to the sites in order to learn more about Passport LLC and it's product line.

A Different Kind Of Biz

Summit Nutritionals

Aviemore Collection

Elan Fine Skin Care

Natural Selling's Michael Oliver - Interview

I will be interviewing best selling author and 2004's # 1 Network Marketing trainer, Michael Oliver on Thursday, March 10th at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific.

Space on this call is limited, so if you would like to log in, send me an email and I will give you the phone number and passcode.

Michael Oliver founded Natural Selling® Sales Training in 1996, and is the author of the best selling book, “How to Sell Network Marketing Without Fear, Anxiety or Losing Your Friends!” Using his 25 years of sales experience, Michael teaches how anyone can achieve far greater and long-lasting results when they understand and use principles that allow people to persuade themselves to make positive changes in their life …naturally.

Passport LLC Addresses Network Marketing Depth Bonus

On February 8th, 2005, Passport LLC announced a new profit sharing bonus that pays Independent Associates for volume outside of the three level compensation plan. Nine percent of the company profits have been set aside for distribution via the Profit Sharing Bonus.

The original compensation plan has not changed. The Profit Sharing Bonus and newly announced Merchant Affiliate Bonus are additions that increase the value of being a Passport Independent Associate.

Passport LLC adds Amazon.com as Merchant Affiliate

Passport LLC has added Amazon.com, Netflix, Petco.com, Office Depot, The Sharper Image, and Inphonic (cell phones) to it's Merchant Affiliate Program.

Up to 75% of the revenues generated through the merchants will be paid back to bonus check eligible Passport Independent Associates.

Additional major name brand affiliates will be added in the near future.

Passport LLC.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - February 15, 2005

Speaking to a live conference call on February 8^th, 2005, Bo Short, CEO of Passport  LLC, announced a new a 9% associate profit-sharing incentive and the addition of two key leadership positions as part of Passport’s growth and expansion.

Ty Tribble was named President of Passport, LLC effective February 1, 2005. Mr. Tribble has extensive experience in a variety of business start-ups including several e-commerce ventures. Ty first joined the organization as an Independent Associate in March 2003.

Dave Stone was announced as Vice-President of Passport, LLC effective February 1, 2005.

Mr. Stone has over twenty years experience in wholesale and retail distribution as well as several years in direct marketing. Stone joined Passport in May 2003 at the Independent Associate level as well.

Passport, LLC was founded in October of 2001 by Robert "Bo" Short after 12 successful years in the direct selling industry. According to Short, "Passport was created to offer people an opportunity that was simple, easy to explain, and fair." Regarding the addition of Mr. Tribble and Mr. Stone, Short added, " I am so proud of these two additions to our corporate leadership as I believe they represent the values of our company. They understand that our roles are to serve our Independent Associates, not the other way around."

Bo Short and the innovative Passport business model have put their stamp on the Network Marketing industry, as evidenced by the number of companies that are now attempting to adopt Passport’s "no-hype" philosophy.

"My personal goal is to bring Network Marketing from a point of resistance to being embraced by the average person", says Ty Tribble. "This industry has a less than sterling reputation and, to a large degree, this has been self-inflicted", adds Dave Stone. Tribble adds, "As an industry, we need to get better at what we do. I believe it starts with reasonable prices and an effective use of today’s technology."

"This is an exciting time for Passport", concludes Short. "We have always stated that Passport is about the Independent Associates. Appointing corporate leadership from the associate ranks and empowering our Independent Associates with a 9% profit-sharing bonus program are two more steps to demonstrate that we mean what we say."

Contact:
Passport LLC.
www.mypassportonline.com
info@mypassportonline.com
1-888-631-4222

Changes and Goals

Three and a half years ago, Bo Short founded Passport in order to offer his friends and associates a fair shot in the crazy world of Network Marketing. Last night, Bo took another giant leap forward by setting aside 9% of Passport as an associates profit sharing program.

Bo then announced two new company officers. Dave Stone is assuming the role of Vice President and I (Ty Tribble) am assuming the role of President of Passport. Bo Short remains the CEO and majority owner. To say that Dave and I are honored would be a gross understatement.

When I addressed the folks on the conference call, I took a moment to talk about the stability of Passport. The fact that Passport is a debt free company. The fact that every product in the warehouse is paid for and the fact that Passport has turned an operational profit in every month since it shipped it's first products in December of 2001.

It is important to know that the company you are affiliated with has a solid foundation and that's what Passport associates have got. On top of the foundation we have placed four pillars. The pillars are commitments that the Passport corporate team are making to every Passport associate and customer.

1. Commitment to Communication

2. Commitment to Customer Service

3. Commitment to Training

4. Commitment to Creative Ideas

In the coming days and weeks, I will discuss these pillars in more detail. I believe they can be applied to any business.

I ended my portion of the call by saying this:

"We (Passport) have the systems and structure in place to be as big as we want to be.

(How big is that?)

We want to be as big as we have to be in order to meet your families goals."

Would I like to see Passport become a billion dollar company? Absolutely. Will I allow it to become a billion dollar company on the backs of a bunch of hard working people that aren't meeting their goals? Not on your life.

More about Passport.

Former Quixtar Diamond Bo Short Live

Passport CEO and Former Quixtar Diamond, Bo Short will speak live on Tuesday, January 4th  at 6PM Pacific/9PM Eastern Time.

To log into the free conference call, dial: 641-478-5008 and enter Code 491560#.

Bo will be talking about what sets Passport apart in the Network  Marketing industry, but the call would help anyone in evaluating Network Marketing.

Passport CEO - Bo Short - Live Tonight

Bo Short and Passport

You can listen to Passport CEO, Bo Short talk about the Network Marketing industry tonight (Tuesday Dec. 7th) at 9PM EST/6PM PST by dialing 641-478-5008 and entering code: 491560#.  Listen in silently and anonymously if you chose to do so.

If you miss the call you can listen to it online here.

Blatant Passport Blog Plug

Dave Stone of MLM Today fame has put together a blog about Passport. The blog is a combination of information for Dave's downline and potential business partners.

Dave is without a doubt in the top 10% of Network Marketers in the indutry, but even more important than that, he is a great guy who focuses on two things; providing solutions to his customers and helping others do something extremely rare in Network Marketing, turn a real profit. He can help you too. You'll like him. Tell him I said hi.

Learn about Bo Short and Passport from Dave at: adifferentkindofbiz.blogspot.com

Selling Products

If you struggle to turn a profit in Network Marketing, I want you to read this post carefully. Network Marketing companies don't pay you to recruit a bunch of people, they pay you to move products from the warehouse into the hands of the end consumer. Network Marketing companies usually allow you to do this two ways.

1. Sell products to end users.
2. Sponsor others who in turn do the same thing.

If you do those two things often enough and monitor your expenses, you will turn a profit in Network Marketing and I believe you should turn a profit in your first or second month. Yet for five years I didn't turn a profit in. I built a team that did over $10,000 a month in volume between products and motivational tools and this resulted in a net loss at the end of most months.

In March of 2003, I stumbled across Bo Short's Passport and after some additional research, I signed up and with the exception of one month, I have turned a profit. Aside from the profit, something very odd happened. People bought products from me.  My own mother never bought Amway products from me in five years, but she religiously buys Passport - Summit Nutritionals Daily Plus and Joint Health Plus at the retail price. It has everything to do with price.

This brings me to a closing question, one that you should ask yourself before getting involved with a Network Marketing company and one that you should ask yourself if you are already involved with a company.

Would you buy the products at the retail price if you weren't involved with the company?

In Passport You Can Just Be You

MLMToday made a great post about the importance of being yourself. Dave's post made me think about the ease of explaining something when all you have to do is tell the truth, without hype and other sales tactics typically used in Network Marketing.

Yesterday, I personally sponsored a person in Passport and I want to share the conversation with you. I think it ties in well with what Dave was saying in his post.

The person I sponsored wrote me this email:

I would be very interested in hearing about Passport. Please remember I am still extremely skeptical, yet open minded.

When I quit Amway, WWDB, I was a 4,000 pin.

I responded with:

Passport is straight forward and simple.

The products are fairly priced, the training is free, and for the most part we build it from home on the
internet and over the phone via conference calls.

You won't find any hype or crazy income claims. You get paid for moving products from the warehouse to the end user. 50% for any volume you do above $85 and 50% spread out on your group on the first 3 levels.

I am sorry to hear about your experience with Amway. Passport is simply a fair opportunity for people that like the concept, but don't want to deal with the garbage that usually goes along with Network
Marketing. Nothing more, nothing less.

The gentlemen did some additional research on my site and at tribble.org and signed up. Instead of spending an hour and a half in some hotel confererence room bashing a persons job in hopes of scaring them into Amway, I used three short paragraphs that took me less than 5 minutes to type in order to explain Passport.

The simple dialogue is one of the reasons why I chuckle when Quixtar IBO's say that Passport is just another one of those "just like Amway, only better deals". The truth is, Passport is nothing like Amway, and therefore better, in my opinion.

MLMBlog - Rewind - What Attracted Me To Passport.

(Originally Posted on December 27th, 2003)

If you have additional questions feel free to send me an email at: mlmblog@mlmblog.net

In the "What Sets Us Apart" - PDF, Bo Short states the following:

"Passport was designed to offer people an opportunity to take advantage of the home based business industry without many of the associated problems."

I have addressed many of the typical problems associated with MLM and Network Marketing in other posts, but I will take the time to summarize them along with the solutions Passport seems to provide. It remains to be seen whether a small company such as Passport can make a change in the world of Network Marketing. However, I believe that if Passport continues to do the right thing, they won't be small for long.

So what really sets Passport apart?

1. Price of the Products. Passport's products compete with retail stores and may be the most competitively priced products in Network Marketing.

2. Truly Home Based. If you are not in the business of making money by having meetings, and the business is simple enough to explain over the phone or online, why take you time away from your family when you can accomplish the same things from home?

3. No Points, PVs or BVs, it all Dollars and Cents. If you want to bring Network Marketing to the masses, you should speak the language of the masses.

4. No Titles. Everyone is an Independent Associate. Leaders will still be leaders, they don't need a title to tell them who they are.

5. No Qualification Periods. No need to buy extra stuff that you don't need in order to qualify for a "pin" or one night of glory.

6. Support Materials are Free, including two free personalized websites.

7. $39 to start and you get $50 in free products to get you started.

8. No surprises. You make money by selling products and sponsoring others. The Passport training is in place to teach you how to do that very thing, not to get you to buy the next tape or attend the next function.

Too many people are spending more than they are making on books, tapes, and meetings, as if a tape is going to make you a success. I was involved with Amway/Quixtar in the past and just recently found a clip of what Amway Founder Rich DeVos thinks about the systems: The success numbers have not changed with tape systems.

Passport Critic Qrash Devos-Limbaugh

I was talking to a friend of mine a couple of months ago about web sites that are critical of Quixtar. My friend asked me what I would do if someone (I think he used the term looney) put up a website that was critical of Passport. Our conversation centered on a what would happen if a person signed up for Passport, quit, and decided to start a web site blasting Passport.

My basic stance on a critical web site is that if person is offering their opinion based on facts or based on their experience, more power to them. I have always been straightforward and have a very clear conscience about my involvement in Passport.

Well the critical site I am referring to is not a former Passport associate talking about Passport based on his or her experience. It is a the site of a self proclaimed cross between Rich DeVos and Rush Limbaugh who can't seem to (or doesn't care to) tell the difference between the truth, rumors, and outright lies.

If you have any questions about Passport feel free to contact me. I have posted some information on this site and may post further information in the future. I just have mixed emotions about addressing outright lies and rumors.

I'll wrap up with a little challenge to our admirer:

Can you name one person one that has left Passport in order to join Quixtar? If you can, I would like to talk with him or her. I know a lot of people that have left Quixtar for Passport, but can't seem to find any that have done the opposite.

Passport MLM Questions

I was joking around with Passport's Bo Short today and told him that he has an admirer who thinks he has an inside scoop on his life. The funny thing about this admirer is that he is so far off the deep end in so many areas that it is silly. Much of the stuff is unsubstantiated rumor and other information that has been widely known and talked about for the 16 months that I have known Bo. All anyone needs to do is call him or email him and ask. If you have specific questions for Bo, and don't feel comfortable getting in touch with him, email me and I will ask him for you.

So I thought I would tell my readers what I have known all along.

1. Passport carries no debt and has been solvent since they shipped their first products in December of 2001.
2. Bo Short - Passport borrowed no money from Larry Sweat or his family. This rumor was intitiated by his former upline when he left Team In Focus - TIF originally.
3. Bo Short is the sole owner of Passport.
4. Passport is not for sale and has never been for sale.

Bo has always said that he purchased the bulk of his 6th leg in Honduras. I have known this all along. This appears to only be a mystery to his admirer. If I am not mistaken the amount was in the $60k region not $100k.

NEWSFLASH: My former Quixtar sponsor who is a diamond allegedly purchased a portion of his diamond-ship in Guam. Stretching (buying products) to get a pin is taught at 1000PV. What would make you think the same is not done at higher levels? I can be certain that there is someone in your up-line that doesn't want to answer the question, "Have you ever purchased additional products to hit a level in Quixtar?"

I know what the admirer is trying to do. That's cool, knock yourself out, dude. But think about this, if Passport only had 10 people involved, was run by Satan himself, and was loaded down with debt, that still wouldn't change the fact that the majority of Quixtar IBO's lose money every month, mostly because of a training system scam operated by a few kingpins. If Passport did not even exist the debate would still be the same. Then again, if you cannot defend your position with facts it is much easier to attack the messenger.

What people are saying about Passport

I received this email over the weekend:

I've just finished listening to Bo Short's explanation of what sets Passport apart. I'm deeply impressed with both the integrity and upfrontness that I heard, and also the simplicity and availability of information regarding the business plan.

Recently a friend of mine contacted me about joining the Quixtar corporation. Out of respect for him I looked at the propostion seriously and kept an open mind. In the end I decided that the idea of network marketing has some value, but I had many problems with the specific opportunity presented to me. First, I was presented with way too much hype and not enough information. They promised everyone an opportunity to live a life of riches and free time, but they never spent much time explaining HOW their idea could give that opportunity to people.

When I listened to a tape entitled 'why this idea will work', the advice given included, "don't get bogged down in the details", "it's not the opportunity that's important, but the people you will work with", "don't listen to the opinions of people outside the company" and "it's difficult to see so you need a little faith". Everything I heard was an appeal to the emotion of hope, and discouraged an analytical view of the business. Furthermore I was told that it is possible to make money (and even lots of it) by simply buying my day to day products from Quixtar, instead of the local supermarket, and building a network of others who do the same. I was told that it was not products that I would be selling, but rather "the dream". This both smells of a barely legal pyramid and seems insustainable.

So I did some due dilligence on the net and found information about a current lawsuit against Quixtar which reveals that the majority of the profits of the people in the upper rings of the company come from the sales of motivational tools, rather than from the core product line.

Although I have now rejected Quixtar, I have become interested in network marketing in general, and after hearing the Quixtar sales pitch so many times I found yours to be very refreshing. If only I lived in America I would join right away. But as I am writing from Australia I just want to say goodluck and I hope that your organisation is very successful so that one day you can be present internationally. Oh, and if you know of any good network marketing companies that operate down here, I'd really appreciate if you would let me know. Thank you for caring about people rather than being driven by profit at any cost.

Regards, Ben Lambert

Former Diamond Bo Short Back Blogging

Bo Short's Former Diamond Blog is back as a true weblog.

In the first post back, Bo Short addresses some of the criticisms and reactions to the issues he has brought up at his FormerDiamond.com web site:

I was recently asked how I felt about the criticisms and reactions to me regarding the issues that I have discussed within this web site. My response was the same two days ago as it was when I chose to go public with what I learned...No surprise. Attacking the messenger is a very common response when a person or a group of people cannot defend their position based on its own merit. Since they cannot discuss matters substantively it is oftentimes easier to impugn people personally.

He ends the post with this:

I believe that the truth is much like a storm traveling across the ocean, picking up speed. In this case, if your foundation is not built on honesty, this storm will punish you. As well, the truth is also as subtle as a little dog walking over and pulling the curtain back revealing that the wizard is actually a scared little man that has built a life upon deception. Thank goodness for the truth.

Always Lead, Bo

The Purple Cow

I am currently reading Seth Godin's book titled 'Purple Cow'. The book talks about having a remarkable business, stating:

"You're either a Purple Cow or you're not. You're either remarkable or invisible. Make your choice."

Mr. Godin goes on to explain that "Cows...are boring. A Purple Cow, though...now that would be something".

This got me to thinking about my network marketing business. Through Passport, I market 26, (soon to be 27), products. These are good quality products at good prices, but I couldn't think of anything truly remarkable about shampoo, vitamins, and skincare products. We have nice packaging, a money back guarantee, and quick delivery, but so do hundreds of other companies.

Something dawned on me while reading a press release from a new MLM company that, (according to the press release), "is poised to be the fastest growing opportunity in MLM." What followed was a few hype filled paragraphs talking about the "cutting edge" product known as water. One thing I know about water is that it's heavy. Shipping costs will be hard to swallow. I don't care how special you think your water is, it is not a Purple Cow when trying to sell it over the Internet. Network Marketing companies all seem to tout Purple Cow like products, typically high in hype and price, but very few are truly remakable.

Which leads me to Passport. The Purple Cow in Passport is not the products, it is the business itself, a combination of things unmatched in the world of Network Marketing:

1. Affordable, Good Quality Products.

2. Free Training and Support

3. Truly Home Based

Whenever I do a conference call talking about What Sets Passport Apart, I read the following statement from the company brochure:

"The combination of teamwork, your independent thinking, our support, and the current market trends lends iteself to our mutual success."

The products do their job, but what is truly remarkable about Passport is that they understand that the average person looking for a home based business just wants a fair shot. They want the truth and they don't want to be misled. It is a somewhat sad but amazing statement that the Purple Cow in Network Marketing is simply centered on telling the truth. No hype. No six-figure income claims. No fancy suits. Me. You. Truth. Purple Cow.

Former Diamond Re-Design

Bo Short's website at www.formerdiamond.com has undergone a redesign. It is now much easier to read.

Here is a snip from the welcome:

Welcome and thank you for making time to review this site. I hope it assists you in answering questions you may have. One of the recurring themes you will hear is that this site is not designed to be critical of the bulk of the people pursuing the Amway/Quixtar business. In fact, it is just the opposite. I believe that the army of distributors are good, kind people working diligently to achieve something that is important to them.

Unfortunately, I believe that what has been presented to many of them as possible...is not. Of course I expect the kingpin distributors of that business, as well as some company officials, to assail my character and challenge my credibility. This is done, as they cannot challenge the validity of my statements. There is nothing I have said that I would not say under oath.

Information on Bo Short's Company - Passport

Here is a link to my site with information on Bo Sho